Using polyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositions for controlling dust from additive particles

ABSTRACT

Application of polyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositions to additive particles to control dusting. A method reducing an amount of dust produced during transfer of additive particles in well operations may comprise providing treated additive particles comprising additive particles and a polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposed on a surface of at least portion of the particles, wherein the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition comprises a polyaminated fatty acid and an organic solvent. The method may further comprise mixing components comprising the treated additive particles and a base fluid to provide a treatment fluid. The method may further comprise introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to controlling dusting from additiveparticles in well operations and, more particularly, to application ofpolyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositions to additive particles tocontrol dusting.

In the oil and gas industry, additive particles are commonly used thatmay be prone to “dusting.” “Dusting” may occur when the additiveparticles are transferred or moved and smaller particulates or dust getstirred up and remain in the air instead of moving into the newcontainer or location. Dusting may be quite problematic. Proppant is onetype of additive particle that may commonly be used to prop fractures inan open position. A common proppant is sand. Sand may be prone todusting as the smaller silica particulates or dust tends to get stirredup into the air during transfer. The proppant may often be stored in astorage container, such as a silo, so the proppant is on-hand andreadily available at the work site when needed for subterraneantreatments. Dusting may generally occur, for example, when transferringthe proppant into the storage container or removing the proppant fromthe storage container for use in the subterranean treatments.

In order to combat the problems of dusting, a liquid, such as water maybe sprayed onto the additive particles before and/or during transfer ofthe particles. The liquid may help weight down the smaller particulatesof dust and keep them from becoming stirred up or airborne. Moreover,equipment, such as a vacuum, may be used to suck the dust out of theair. However, some of the disadvantages to using a liquid to combatdusting is that the liquid may evaporate, which may leave the additiveparticles susceptible to dusting during the next transfer. As a result,when a liquid is used, it is common to have to keep re-applying theliquid before or during each transfer of the particles. Additionally,equipment, such as a vacuum, may be expensive and cumbersome due to thephysical size and handling of the equipment near the transfer area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of certain embodiments will be more readilyappreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures. The figures are not to be construed as limiting any of thepreferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for transferring additiveparticles from a storage container to one or more mixing vessels.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a well system that may be used forplacement of a treatment fluid into a wellbore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to controlling dusting from additiveparticles in well operations. It has been discovered that compositionscomprising a polyaminated fatty acid and an organic solvent may be usedto treat additive particles. These compositions may be referred toherein as “polyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositions.” Thepolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition may modify the surface ofat least some of the additive particles in which particulates of dustmay become stuck to or at least attracted to the particles such that thedust is less likely to become stirred up during transfer.Advantageously, additive particles treated with the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition may only need to be treated one time becausethe polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition should not evaporatelike other liquids and/or oils should be stable at temperatures up to350° F. (177° C.) for several days to months without evaporating,degrading, or oxidizing, and cumbersome equipment may not be needed tocombat the production of dust during transfers.

It is to be understood that the discussion of embodiments regardingadditive particles, the storage container, or polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition are intended to apply to the method andsystem embodiments.

Polyaminated fatty acids are fatty acids that comprise at least tworeactive amine groups. The reactive amine groups may be primary aminogroups, secondary amine groups, or combinations thereof. Fatty acids arecarboxylic acids with an aliphatic tail, which may be saturated orunsaturated. Suitable fatty acids may include those characterized asshort-chain fatty acids (aliphatic tail of less than 6 carbon atoms),medium-chain fatty acids (aliphatic tail of 6 to 12 carbon atoms), orlong-chain fatty acids (aliphatic tail longer than 13 carbon atoms).Without limitation, suitable saturated fatty acids may include caprylicacid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmititc acid, stearicacid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, and cerotic acid.Without limitation, suitable unsaturated fatty acids may includemyristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, sapienic acid, oleic acid, elaidicacid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linoelaidic acid, arachidonic acid,eicosaentaenoic acid, and euric acid. Combinations of two or moredifferent fatty acids may also be used.

The polyaminated fatty acid may be combined with an organic solvent.Without limitation, the polyaminated fatty acid may be combined with theorganic solvent due to the viscous and tacky nature of the polyaminatedfatty acid, which may make it difficult to apply to the additiveparticle. Without limitation, the polyaminated fatty acid in which thepolyaminated fatty acid may be dispersed or otherwise combined mayinclude any of variety of organic solvents, including, but not limitedto, vegetable oils, nut oils, citrus oils, synthetic oils, mineral oil,aromatic solvents, terpene, kerosene, diesel, derivatives of any of theforegoing, and any combination of any of the foregoing in anyproportion. Examples of suitable vegetable oils may include canola oil,coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, palmoil, peanut oil, safflower oil, rice bran oil, soybean oil, sunfloweroil, or combinations thereof. Examples of suitable nut oils may includealmond oil, beech nut oil, cashew oil, hazelnut oil, macadamia oil,mongongo oil, pecan oil, pine nut oil, pistachio oil, walnut oil, orcombinations thereof. Examples of suitable citrus oils may includegrapefruit seed oil, lemon oil, orange oil, or combinations thereof.Examples of suitable synthetic oils may include polyalphaolefins(poly-1-hexene, poly-1-octene, etc), diesters (diisotridecyl adipate,etc), and polyalkylene glycols (mostly copolymers of ethylene andpropylene oxide).

Without limitation, the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositionmay have a ratio of about 10% to about 70% by volume of the polyaminatedfatty acid and about 30% to about 90% by volume of the organic solvent.Even further, the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition may havea ratio of about 10% to about 50% by volume of the polyaminated fattyacid and about 90% to about 10% by volume of the organic solvent. Theratio of the polyaminated fatty acid and organic solvent will depend ona number of factors, including without limitation, viscosity,temperature, concentration of the composition on the additive particles,and the like.

The additive particles may be any additive particles in a dry form thatmay be prone to dusting. Examples additive particles that may be used inwell operations, for example, may include sand; bauxite; ceramicmaterials; glass materials; polymer materials; polytetrafluoroethylene(TEFLON®) materials; resin precoated sands; resin precoated proppants;nut shell pieces; seed shell pieces; cured resinous particulatescomprising nut shell pieces; cured resinous particulates comprising seedshell pieces; fruit pit pieces; cured resinous particulates comprisingfruit pit pieces; wood; composite particulates and combinations thereof.Sand may be especially prone to dusting. Additive particles may beincluded as “proppant” in fracturing treatments and “gravel” in gravelpacking treatments. It should be understood that the term “particulate,”as used in this disclosure, includes all known shapes of materialsincluding substantially spherical materials, fibrous materials,polygonal materials (such as cubic materials) and mixtures thereof.Moreover, fibrous materials that may or may not be used to bear thepressure of a closed fracture, are often included in proppant and graveltreatments. It should be understood that the term “proppant,” as used inthis disclosure, includes all known shapes of materials includingsubstantially spherical materials, fibrous materials, polygonalmaterials (such as cubic materials) and mixtures thereof.

The additive particles may be bulk particles, mesoscopic particles,nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. As used herein, a “bulkparticle” is a particle having a particle size greater than 1 micron. Asused herein, a “mesoscopic particle” is a particle having a particlesize in the range of 1 micron to 0.1 micron. As used herein, a“nanoparticle” is a particle having a particle size of less than 0.1micron. As used herein, the term “particle size” refers to the volumesurface mean diameter (“Ds”), which is related to the specific surfacearea of the particle. The volume surface mean diameter may be defined bythe following equation: D_(s)=6/(Φ_(s)A_(w)ρ_(p)), whereΦ_(s)=sphericity; A_(w)=specific surface area; and ρ_(p)=particledensity. Typically, the additive particles may have a size in the rangeof from about 2 mesh to about 400 mesh, U.S. Sieve Series. Withoutlimitation, the additive particles may have particles size distributionranges are one or more of 6/12 mesh, 8/16, 12/20, 16/30, 20/40, 30/50,40/60, 40/70, 50/70, 70/170, or 70/200. By way of example, the additiveparticles may have a particle size of 2, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80. 90,100, 200, 300, or 400 mesh.

Turning to FIG. 1, a system 100 for transferring additive particles froma storage container 102 to one or more mixing vessels (e.g., dryingredient mixing bin 114 or wet ingredient mixing tube 116) isillustrated. The system 100 may include storage container 102. Thestorage container 102 may be, for example, a silo or similar containerthat may be capable of storing a large amount of additive particles. Thesystem 100 may further include a transport trailer 104. The transporttrailer 104 may transport the additive particles to the storagecontainer 102, for example, from a warehouse or manufacturing plant. Thestorage container 102 may be located at the work site (e.g., well site)where the additive particles are to be used. The storage container 102containing the additive particles may also be transported to the worksite. The additive particles may be transferred from the transporttrailer 104 into the storage container 102 via a transfer device, suchas a transfer tube 106 or conveyor system, which may be open or closed,for example. The additive particles may be prone to dusting during thetransfer and create dust 112 outside or inside of the storage container102.

The system 100 may also include one or more additional transfer devices,such as an open conveyor 108 (e.g., a conveyor belt) or a closedconveyor 110 (e.g., an auger screw device) to transfer the additiveparticles to one or more mixing apparatuses, such as dry ingredientmixing bin 114 or wet ingredient dry ingredient mixing tube 116. By wayof example, the additive particles may be gravity fed from the storagecontainer 102 onto an open conveyor 108 by opening a gate valve 116located at the bottom of the storage container 102. The additiveparticles may then be transferred via the open conveyor 108 into a dryingredient mixing bin 114 where other dry ingredients may be mixed withthe additive particles. The dry mixture may then be additionallytransferred via a closed conveyor 110, for example, into a dry and wetingredient mixing tub 116 or other similar device wherein the dryingredients may be mixed with one or more fluids to form a treatmentfluid.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, at each transfer point before and after beingplaced into storage container 102 an amount of dust 112 may be produced.There may also be dust 112 produced at every transfer point. It is to beunderstood that FIG. 1 is merely illustrative of a system 100 in whichdusting of additive problems may be problematic and that the presentdiscussion is intended to encompass other configurations that may beused or the transfer of additive particles.

Reducing dust produced by the additive particles may be accomplished bytreating the additive particles with the polyaminated fatty acid-basedoil composition. Treating the additive particles may include coating,for example, spray coating of the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition onto the additive particles. Other suitable methods may beused for treating the additive particles with the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition, including mixing the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition with the additive particles. The additiveparticles treated with the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositionmay include the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposedon a surface of at least a portion of the additive particles, forexample, disposed on a surface of at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, or moreof the additive particles. Polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcompositions may be particularly useful for applying to additiveparticles due to their environmentally nature and/or ability to allowfor the additive particles to remain dry during their application.Remaining dry may prevent the additive particles from sticking to oneanother during application, thus allowing the additive particles toremain free flowing even after application of the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition. Application of the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition to the additive particles may reduce theamount of dust produced within system 100 and/or during transportationof the additive particles.

The polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition may be used in aconcentration sufficient to provide the desired dusting control withinsystem 100 and/or transportation of the additive particles while alsomaintaining the flowability of the treated additive particles. Withoutlimitation, the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition may beapplied to the additive particles in a concentration in the range ofabout 0.01% to about 5% v/w, or about 0.05% to about 1% v/w, or about0.05% to about 0.5% v/w, or about 0.1% to about 0.25% v/w, wherein “v/w”refers to volume of the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition byweight of the additive particles.

The additive particles may be flowable prior to and after being treatedwith the biodegradable oil. As used herein, the term “flowable” meansthat the additive particles may flow, be poured, free flow under theforce of gravity, be pumped, and conform to the outline of a container.In this manner, the additive particles may be pumped, for example, fromtransport trailer 102 and into storage container 102. The additiveparticles may also flow from storage container 102, for example bygravity feed, onto an open or closed conveyor, such as open conveyor108.

The additive particles may be treated with the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition at a variety of times. By way of example, theadditive particles may be treated at any time prior to a transfer inwhich dust is likely to be produced. The additive particles may betreated prior to, during, or after transfer into storage container 102.By way of example, the additive particles may be treated at amanufacturing facility or when placed into transport trailer 104. Theadditive particles may also be treated as the additive particles arebeing transferred into storage container 102. By way of another example,the additive particles may be treated when leaving storage container102, for example during gravity feeding onto open conveyor 108. Theadditive particles may also be treated before or after being transferredinto a mixing apparatus, such as the dry ingredient mixing bin 114 orthe dry and wet ingredient mixing tub 116, from the storage container102. It may be advantageous to treat the additive particles as far upthe chain as possible, for example prior to being transferred intostorage container 102 or upon exiting the storage container 102. In thismanner, the amount of dust 112 that is produced may be decreased asoften as possible at each transfer point. This also eliminates the needto use other liquids, such as water, or equipment to try and reduce theamount of dust produced prior to treatment with the biodegradable oil.As such, the additive particles may be treated once and the amount ofdust produced during each subsequent transfer may be reduced andpossibly eliminated.

The methods may further include using the treated additive particles inan operation at the work site. The operation may be a subterraneantreatment in an oil and gas well. For example, the treated additiveparticles may be used in or in conjunction with numerous welloperations, including but not limited to cementing, fracturing, gravelpacking, “frac-packing,” screened completions, screenless completions,drilling, acidizing (e.g. matrix acidizing or fracture acidizing),conformance treatments (e.g., water control, relative permeabilitymodifiers, etc.), other sand control applications (e.g. formationconsolidation, near wellbore consolidation, etc.), fluid loss “pills”,scale treatments, hydrate control treatments, and the like.

Well operations may include introducing a treatment fluid comprising atreated additive particle into a subterranean formation. The treatedadditive particle may comprise an additive particle that has beentreated with a polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition asdescribed above, in that at least a portion of the additive particlesmay include the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposedon a surface thereof. Introduction in the subterranean formationincludes introducing into the portion of the subterranean surrounding awellbore in the subterranean formation, as well as introduction of thetreatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation.The additive particle may be deposited in the subterranean formation,among other purposes, to form a portion of a gravel pack and/or to holdopen conductive channels or fractures within the subterranean formation(e.g., forming a “proppant pack” within a subterranean fracture). Thetreatment fluid may be introduced into the subterranean formation afracturing pressure to create or enhance one or more fractures withinthe subterranean formation. “Enhancing” one or more fractures in asubterranean formation may include the extension or enlargement of oneor more natural or previously created fractures in the subterraneanformation.

Subterranean treatments may include a cementing operation that comprisesintroducing a cement composition comprising a treated additive particleinto a subterranean formation and allowing the cement composition toset. The treated additive particle may comprise an additive particlethat has been treated with a polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition as described above. The cement composition may set to form ahardened mass. The cement composition may set in an annular spacebetween the walls of the wellbore and the exterior surface of the pipestring (e.g., casing, liners, expandable tubulars, etc.) disposedtherein to thereby form an annular sheath of hardened, substantiallyimpermeable cement (i.e., a cement sheath) that may support and positionthe pipe string in the wellbore, as well as bonding the exterior surfaceof the pipe string to the subterranean formation (or larger conduit).This process for cementing a pipe string in place may commonly bereferred to as “primary cementing.” Cement compositions also may be usedin remedial cementing methods, for example, to seal cracks or holes inpipe strings or cement sheaths, to seal highly permeable formation zonesor fractures, to place a cement plug, and the like.

Example methods of using the additive particles will now be described inmore detail with reference to FIG. 2. Any of the previous examples ofthe treated additive particles may apply in the context of FIG. 2. FIG.2 illustrates an example well system 200 that may be used forpreparation and delivery of a treatment fluid downhole. It should benoted that while FIG. 2 generally depicts a land-based operation, thoseskilled in the art will readily recognize that the principles describedherein are equally applicable to subsea operations that employ floatingor sea-based platforms and rigs, without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. Referring now to FIG. 2, a fluid handling system 202 isillustrated. The fluid handling system 202 may be used for preparationof a treatment fluid comprising treated additive particles and forintroduction of the treatment fluid into a wellbore 204. The fluidhandling system 202 may include mobile vehicles, immobile installations,skids, hoses, tubes, fluid tanks or reservoirs, pumps, valves, and/orother suitable structures and equipment. As illustrated, the fluidhandling system 202 may comprise a fluid supply vessel 206, pumpingequipment 208, and wellbore supply conduit 210. While not illustrated,the fluid supply vessel 206 may contain one or more components of thetreatment fluid (e.g., treated additive particles, base fluid, etc.) inseparate tanks or other containers that may be mixed at any desiredtime. Pumping equipment 208 may be fluidically coupled with the fluidsupply vessel 206 and wellbore supply conduit 210 to communicate thetreatment fluid into wellbore 204. Fluid handling system 202 may alsoinclude surface and downhole sensors (not shown) to measure pressure,rate, temperature and/or other parameters of treatment. Fluid handlingsystem 202 may include pump controls and/or other types of controls forstarting, stopping, and/or otherwise controlling pumping as well ascontrols for selecting and/or otherwise controlling fluids pumped duringthe injection treatment. An injection control system may communicatewith such equipment to monitor and control the injection of thetreatment fluid. As depicted in FIG. 2, the fluid supply vessel 206 andpumping equipment 208 may be above the surface 212 while the wellbore204 is below the surface 112. As will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art, well system 200 may be configured as shown inFIG. 2 or in a different manner, and may include additional or differentfeatures as appropriate. By way of example, fluid handling system 202may be deployed via skid equipment, marine vessel, or may be comprisedof sub-sea deployed equipment.

Without continued reference to FIG. 2, well system 200 may be used forintroduction of a treatment fluid into wellbore 204. The treatment fluidmay contain a base fluid (which may be oil- or aqueous-based) andtreated additive particles, described herein. Generally, wellbore 204may include horizontal, vertical, slanted, curved, and other types ofwellbore geometries and orientations. Without limitation, the treatmentfluid may be applied through the wellbore 204 to subterranean formation214 surrounding any portion of wellbore 204. As illustrated, thewellbore 204 may include a casing 216 that may be cemented (or otherwisesecured) to wellbore wall by cement sheath 218. Perforations 220 allowthe treatment fluid and/or other materials to flow into and out of thesubterranean formation 214 A plug 222, which may be any type of plug(e.g., bridge plug, etc.) may be disposed in wellbore 204 below theperforations 220 if desired.

The treatment fluid comprising the treated additive particles may bepumped from fluid handling system 202 down the interior of casing 216 inwellbore 204. As illustrated, well conduit 224 (e.g., coiled tubing,drill pipe, etc.) may be disposed in casing 216 through which thetreatment fluid may be pumped. The well conduit 224 may be the same ordifferent than the wellbore supply conduit 210. For example, the wellconduit 224 may be an extension of the wellbore supply conduit 210 intothe wellbore 204 or may be tubing or other conduit that is coupled tothe wellbore supply conduit 210. The treatment fluid may be allowed toflow down the interior of well conduit 224, exit the well conduit 224,and finally enter subterranean formation 214 surrounding wellbore 204 byway of perforations 220 through the casing 216 (if the wellbore is casedas in FIG. 2) and cement sheath 218. Without limitation, the treatmentfluid may be introduced into subterranean formation 214 whereby one ormore fractures (not shown) may be created or enhanced in subterraneanformation 214. For example, the treatment fluid may be introduced intosubterranean formation 214 at or above fracturing pressure. Withoutlimitation, at least a portion of the treated additive particles may bedeposited in the subterranean formation to hold open fractures insubterranean formation 214.

Accordingly, this disclosure describes methods, compositions, andsystems that may be used for reducing dust in well operations. Withoutlimitation, a method of reducing an amount of dust produced duringtransfer of additive particles in well operations may comprise providingtreated additive particles comprising additive particles and apolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposed on a surface ofat least portion of the particles. The polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition may comprise a polyaminated fatty acid and an organicsolvent. The method may further comprise mixing components comprisingthe treated additive particles and a base fluid to provide a treatmentfluid.

This method of reducing an amount of dust produced during transfer ofadditive particles in well operations may include any of the variousfeatures of the compositions, methods, and systems disclosed herein.Without limitation, this method of reducing an amount of dust mayinclude one or more of the following elements in any combination. Themethod may further include introducing the treatment fluid into asubterranean formation. The method may further include treating theadditive particles with the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition. The method may further include transferring the additiveparticles into a storage container, wherein the additive particles aretreated with the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition prior to,during, or after transfer into the storage container. The method mayfurther include transferring the treated additive particles to one ormore mixing apparatuses. The method may further include wherein theadditive particles are bulk particles, mesoscopic particles,nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. The method may further includewherein the additive particles comprise at least one material selectedfrom the group consisting of include sand; bauxite; ceramic material;glass material; resin precoated sands; resin precoated proppants;polymer material; polytetrafluoroethylene material; nut shell pieces;seed shell pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising nut shellpieces; cured resinous particulate comprising seed shell pieces; fruitpit pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising fruit pit pieces;wood; composite particulates and combinations thereof. The method mayfurther include introducing the treatment fluid into the subterraneanformation at or above a fracturing pressure, wherein the treatedadditive particles are deposited into a fracture in the subterraneanformation to hold open the fracture. The method may further includewherein the additive particles comprise sand. The method may furtherinclude wherein the polyaminated fatty acid is a saturated fatty acidthat comprises two or more reactive amine groups. The method may furtherinclude wherein the saturated fatty acid has an aliphatic tail length ofat least 13 carbon atoms. The method may further include whereinpolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition is present in the treatedadditive particles in a concentration of about 0.01% v/w to about 5%v/w.

Without limitation, another method of reducing an amount of dustproduced during transfer of additive particles in well operations maycomprise providing treated additive particles comprising additiveparticles and a polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposedon a surface of at least portion of the particles. The polyaminatedfatty acid-based oil composition may comprise a polyaminated fatty acidand an organic solvent. The method may further comprise transferring thetreated additive particles into a mixing apparatus. The method mayfurther comprise mixing components comprising the treated additiveparticles and a base fluid to provide a treatment fluid. The method mayfurther comprise introducing the treatment fluid into a subterraneanformation at or above a fracturing pressure of the subterraneanformation.

This additional method of reducing an amount of dust produced duringtransfer of additive particles in well operations may include any of thevarious features of the compositions, methods, and systems disclosedherein. Without limitation, this additional method of reducing an amountof dust may include one or more of the following elements in anycombination. This additional method may further include treating theadditive particles with the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition. The method may further include transferring the additiveparticles into a storage container, wherein the additive particles aretreated with the polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition prior to,during, or after transfer into the storage container. The method mayfurther include wherein the additive particles are bulk particles,mesoscopic particles, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. The methodmay further include wherein the additive particles comprise at least onematerial selected from the group consisting of include sand; bauxite;ceramic material; glass material; resin precoated sands; resin precoatedproppants; polymer material; polytetrafluoroethylene material; nut shellpieces; seed shell pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising nutshell pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising seed shell pieces;fruit pit pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising fruit pitpieces; wood; composite particulates and combinations thereof. Themethod may further wherein the treated additive particles are depositedinto a fracture in the subterranean formation to hold open the fracture.The method may further include wherein the additive particles comprisesand. The method may further include wherein the polyaminated fatty acidis a saturated fatty acid that comprises two or more reactive aminegroups. The method may further include wherein the saturated fatty acidhas an aliphatic tail length of at least 13 carbon atoms. The method mayfurther include wherein polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition ispresent in the treated additive particles in a concentration of about0.01% v/w to about 5% v/w.

Without limitation, a composition may be provided comprising additiveparticles for a well treatment fluid and a polyaminated fatty acid-basedoil composition disposed on a surface of at least portion of theadditive particles, wherein the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition comprises a polyaminated fatty acid and an organic solvent.The additive particles may be bulk particles, mesoscopic particles,nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. The additive particles maycomprise proppant. The additive particles may comprise at least onematerial selected from the group consisting of include sand; bauxite;ceramic material; glass material; resin precoated sands; resin precoatedproppants; polymer material; polytetrafluoroethylene material; nut shellpieces; seed shell pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising nutshell pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising seed shell pieces;fruit pit pieces; cured resinous particulate comprising fruit pitpieces; wood; composite particulates and combinations thereof. Thepolyaminated fatty acid may be a saturated fatty acid that comprises twoor more reactive amine groups. The saturated fatty acid may have analiphatic tail length of at least 13 carbon atoms. The polyaminatedfatty acid-based oil composition may be present on the additiveparticles in a concentration of about 0.01% v/w to about 5% v/w. Thecomposition may further comprise a well treatment fluid, wherein thewell treatment fluid comprises the additive particles disposed in a basefluid.

Without limitation, a well system may be provided that comprises treatedadditive particles comprising additive particles and a polyaminatedfatty acid-based oil composition disposed on a surface of at leastportion of the particles, wherein the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition comprises a polyaminated fatty acid and an organic solvent.The well system may further comprise a fluid handling system comprisinga fluid supply vessel, pumping equipment fluidly coupled to the fluidsupply vessel and a wellbore supply conduit fluidly coupled to awellbore and the pumping equipment, wherein the wellbore supply conduitis configured to convey a treatment fluid comprising the treatedadditive particles into the wellbore.

This well system may include any of the various features of thecompositions, methods, and systems disclosed herein. Without limitation,this well system may include one or more of the following elements inany combination. The well system may include wherein the additiveparticles are bulk particles, mesoscopic particles, nanoparticles, orcombinations thereof. The well system may further include wherein theadditive particles comprise at least one material selected from thegroup consisting of include sand; bauxite; ceramic material; glassmaterial; resin precoated sands; resin precoated proppants; polymermaterial; polytetrafluoroethylene material; nut shell pieces; seed shellpieces; cured resinous particulate comprising nut shell pieces; curedresinous particulate comprising seed shell pieces; fruit pit pieces;cured resinous particulate comprising fruit pit pieces; wood; compositeparticulates and combinations thereof. The well system may furtherinclude wherein the additive particles comprise sand. The well systemmay further include wherein the polyaminated fatty acid is a saturatedfatty acid that comprises two or more reactive amine groups. The wellsystem may further include wherein the saturated fatty acid has analiphatic tail length of at least 13 carbon atoms. The well system mayfurther include wherein polyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition ispresent in the treated additive particles in a concentration of about0.01% v/w to about 5% v/w.

The exemplary treated additive particles with a polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition disclosed herein may directly or indirectlyaffect one or more components or pieces of equipment associated with thepreparation, delivery, recapture, recycling, reuse, and/or disposal ofthe permeability modifiers. For example, the treated additive particlesmay directly or indirectly affect one or more mixers, related mixingequipment, mud pits, storage facilities or units, compositionseparators, heat exchangers, sensors, gauges, pumps, compressors, andthe like used generate, store, monitor, regulate, and/or recondition thepermeability modifiers. The treated additive particles may also directlyor indirectly affect any transport or delivery equipment used to conveythe permeability modifier to a well site or downhole such as, forexample, any transport vessels, conduits, pipelines, trucks, tubulars,and/or pipes used to compositionally move the permeability modifier fromone location to another, any pumps, compressors, or motors (e.g.,topside or downhole) used to drive the treated additive particles intomotion, any valves or related joints used to regulate the pressure orflow rate of the treated additive particles (or fluids containing thetreated additive particles, and any sensors (i.e., pressure andtemperature), gauges, and/or combinations thereof, and the like. Thedisclosed treated additive particles may also directly or indirectlyaffect the various downhole equipment and tools that may come intocontact with the treated additive particles such as, but not limited to,wellbore casing, wellbore liner, completion string, insert strings,drill string, coiled tubing, slickline, wireline, drill pipe, drillcollars, mud motors, downhole motors and/or pumps, cement pumps,surface-mounted motors and/or pumps, centralizers, turbolizers,scratchers, floats (e.g., shoes, collars, valves, etc.), logging toolsand related telemetry equipment, actuators (e.g., electromechanicaldevices, hydromechanical devices, etc.), sliding sleeves, productionsleeves, plugs, screens, filters, flow control devices (e.g., inflowcontrol devices, autonomous inflow control devices, outflow controldevices, etc.), couplings (e.g., electro-hydraulic wet connect, dryconnect, inductive coupler, etc.), control lines (e.g., electrical,fiber optic, hydraulic, etc.), surveillance lines, drill bits andreamers, sensors or distributed sensors, downhole heat exchangers,valves and corresponding actuation devices, tool seals, packers, cementplugs, bridge plugs, and other wellbore isolation devices, orcomponents, and the like.

EXAMPLES

To facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, thefollowing examples of some of the preferred embodiments are given. In noway should such examples be read to limit, or to define, the scope ofthe invention.

To determine the effect of a polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition for dust control of additive particles, the followingexample was performed. Sand having particles size distributions of 20/40mesh and 30/50 mesh with some dust was treated with a polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition. First, the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition was prepared by mixing 25% v/v of polyaminated fatty acidwith 75% v/v of vegetable oil, wherein “% v/v” refers to volume of thecomponent by total volume of the polyaminated fatty acid-based oilcomposition. To treat the sand, about 100 grams of sand were added to a500 mL glass bottle. Using a spray air gun, about 0.25 mL of thepolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition was sprayed onto the sandin the glass bottle at 20 pounds per square inch of pressure whilerolling the glass bottle.

For qualitative determination of dust control effectiveness, the treatedsand was then transferred to a beaker and blown with air through a tubeat a pressure of about 15 pounds per square inch. No visible dust wasproduced when the treated sand was contacted with air. In contrast,visible dust was produced when untreated sand with dust was contactedwith air in the same manner. The same results were found for both the20/40 mesh and 30/50 mesh sand.

For quantitative determination of dust control effectiveness ofpolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition, a sand blaster was usedto generate dust and a dust monitor was used to measure the suspendedparticles. In the sand blaster, an air-powered pressure gun blows outsand at a high velocity to impact with the intended surface. For dustgeneration and measurement, sand was blown out with a fixed pressure andimpacted on a metallic plate at a certain distance between the air gunand metallic plate for a fixed time. The dust concentration (μg/m³) wasmeasured by dust monitor. The dust monitor measures the dustconcentration of mass range PM1 (Particle size less than 1 micron),PM2.5 (particle size less than 2.5 micron), PM4 (particle size less than4 micron), PM7 (Particle size less than 7 micron), PM10 (particle sizeless than 10 micron) and total suspended solid (TSP). In this example,20/40 mesh sand that was untreated sand and 20/40 mesh sand treated with0.25% v/w of 25% polyaminated fatty acid +75% vegetable oil was used fordust generation at a pressure 20 pounds per square inch with a 3.5 inchdistance between the air gun and the metallic plate. The impact time was30 seconds. The total suspended particles generated by untreated sandwere 38000 μg/m³ while sand treated with polyaminated fatty acid-basedoil composition generated only 700 μg/m³ TSP. This indicates thatpolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition reduces dust generation byalmost 98% and effective for dust control.

In addition to the above results for control of dust generation, thetreated sand showed comparable flowability to the untreated sand withoutan increase in the angle of repose of the treated sand. The same resultswere found for both the 20/40 mesh and 30/50 mesh sand.

Accordingly, this Example may indicate that the amount of dust may becontrolled and possibly eliminated by treating additive particles withpolyaminated fatty acid-based oil compositions while maintainingflowability of the additive particles.

The preceding description provides various embodiments of the additiveparticles that have been treated with a polyaminated fatty acid-basedoil composition, as well as methods of using the treated additiveparticles. It should be understood that, although individual embodimentsmay be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinationsof the disclosed embodiments, including, without limitation, thedifferent additive combinations, additive concentrations, and fluidproperties.

It should be understood that the compositions and methods are describedin terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” variouscomponents or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consistessentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps.Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims,are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that itintroduces.

For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosedherein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with anyupper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as, rangesfrom any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit torecite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from anyupper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a rangenot explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with alower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any includedrange falling within the range are specifically disclosed. Inparticular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to aboutb,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently,“from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to setforth every number and range encompassed within the broader range ofvalues even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individualvalue may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any otherpoint or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite arange not explicitly recited.

Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends andadvantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. Theparticular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as thepresent invention may be modified and practiced in different butequivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design herein shown, otherthan as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claimshave their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly andclearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that theparticular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered ormodified and all such variations are considered within the scope andspirit of the present invention. If there is any conflict in the usagesof a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) orother documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, thedefinitions that are consistent with this specification should beadopted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of reducing an amount of dust producedduring transfer of additive particles in well operations, comprising:providing treated additive particles comprising additive particles and apolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition disposed on a surface ofat least a portion of the particles, wherein the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition comprises a polyaminated fatty acid and anorganic solvent; mixing components comprising the treated additiveparticles and a base fluid to provide a treatment fluid; and introducingthe treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising treating the additive particles with thepolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising transferring the additive particles into a storagecontainer, wherein the additive particles are treated with thepolyaminated fatty acid-based oil composition prior to, during, or aftertransfer into the storage container.
 4. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising transferring the treated additive particles to one or moremixing apparatuses.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the additiveparticles are bulk particles, mesoscopic particles, nanoparticles, orcombinations thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additiveparticles comprise at least one material selected from the groupconsisting of sand; bauxite; ceramic material; glass material; resinprecoated sands; resin precoated proppants; polymer material;polytetrafluoroethylene material; nut shell pieces; seed shell pieces;cured resinous particulate comprising nut shell pieces; cured resinousparticulate comprising seed shell pieces; fruit pit pieces; curedresinous particulate comprising fruit pit pieces; wood; compositeparticulates and combinations thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising introducing the treatment fluid into the subterraneanformation at or above a fracturing pressure, wherein the treatedadditive particles are deposited into a fracture in the subterraneanformation to hold open the fracture.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinthe additive particles comprise sand.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe polyaminated fatty acid is a saturated fatty acid that comprises twoor more reactive amine groups.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thesaturated fatty acid has an aliphatic tail length of at least 13 carbonatoms.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyaminated fattyacid-based oil composition is present in the treated additive particlesin a concentration of about 0.01% v/w to about 5% v/w.